By KRWG News
Silver City – A Silver City-area landfill will accept some asbestos waste from structures that burned last month in a wildfire near the southwestern New Mexico community.
Southwest Solid Waste Authority manager C.J. Law says asbestos ordinarily is high on a list of materials prohibited in the Southwest New Mexico Regional Landfill.
But Law has received a waiver from the state Environment Department, which allows the landfill to accept up to 1,000 tons of material that contains asbestos.
He says the waiver expires May 9.
Law says it otherwise could cost homeowners up to $50,000 to hire a state-certified contractor to haul asbestos-containing waste.
He says people hauling asbestos-contaminated material to the landfill must prevent airborne release of asbestos fibers.
The wildfire in early March destroyed 13 homes and damaged dozens of outbuildings.
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Information from: Silver City Daily Press, http://www.scdailypress.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.